Move proves challenging for business
For Terry and Gina Cellurale of Uniontown, moving Bangz, their full service salon, into a new location offered more than the usual challenge. They decided their new home would be in a 100-year-old Victorian house on Route 40.
Formerly located on Morgantown Street, Bangz made the transition to the Victorian period home on West Main Street by completely renovating the house. With the renovations complete, the interior decorated, employees hired and equipment in place, business has flourished at the salon, they said.
Offering massages, manicures, pedicures, facials and makeovers along with haircuts and styling, Bangz employs five trained technicians to provide these services.
For each of these activities, a separate room awaits. There exists a total of 13 rooms including an attic transformed into a studio apartment, a mailroom, a bathroom, two waiting areas, two salon areas, an employee break room, a nail studio and a massage room.
With an original wood-mantle fireplace in each of the 13 rooms, Bangz is a place that has maintained its old-world charm, while revitalizing it into a home that reverberates with flair and style. Stained glass windows, wood in shades of mahogany and cherry, hand-carved staircase bases, wooden floors and more remain the hallmarks reminding visitors of the home’s age.
Only remarking that “a lot” was spent in refurbishing the home, Terry displays before and after pictures of the renovations that took place after their purchase of the home from Bob and Susie Mallick in July of 2001.
“We replaced the lights from old to new. We had central air conditioning installed, a new heating system plus the numerous electrical renovations. We painted the interior of the home, including the radiators,” said Terry. “There were so many things that it’s hard to mention them all.”
The Cellurales created a spacious studio apartment in the former attic with a far-reaching view of the distant mountain range. The area is presently used for employee housing.
The outside of the home remained another project in itself with the brick needing scrubbing, awnings awaiting to be hung, the extension of a wrap-around porch waiting finishing and a large, accommodating parking lot requiring installation.
Terry credited his wife Gina as the “one who envisioned” the potential of refurbishing the home into a business. Gina works as a color specialist at the salon, bringing 12 years of experience with her.
Married for 11 years, the Cellurales have two daughters – Gabriella and Taylor – who attend Hatfield Elementary in the Laurel Highlands School District.
The Cellurales pride the professionalism of their business, elaborating on the schools that they and employees were trained at. Redken, Paul Mitchell, Clairol and Sasoon academies are to name a few.
“There are so many advances constantly taking place,” said Terry.
“We decide to stay ahead of the game and bring all the newest elements to our salon in order to get ahead of everyone. My wife, as a coloring technician, is years in advanced, as are all the employees of Bangz.”
Gina began her love for color and styling at the age of 19. She attended the former Uniontown Beauty Academy, along with Redken styling school in New York. Now, at the age of 36, Gina has gained the accomplishment of owning, operating and assisting in refurbishing Bangz.
Terry also admittedly has gained his share of styling expertise. Working in the beauty salon business since a teenager, Terry has traveled around the country and the world, tailoring to the preferred style of hair for each customer he encountered.